After a strong 2022 when Buffalo went 7-6 and won the third bowl game in school history, the Bulls took a major step back last season. Buffalo went 3-9 and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference East Division.
Now the program is starting all over with a new coach. After three seasons, Maurice Linguist left Buffalo to become co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Alabama. He was replaced by Pete Lembo.
Lembo has a career 112-65 record as a head coach at Lehigh, Elon, and Ball State from 2001-2015. The last three years he served as associate head coach and special teams coordinator at South Carolina.
Lembo is certainly familiar with the MAC after going 33-29 (23-17 in league play) during five seasons as the head coach at Ball State from 2011-2015.
Now comes the matter of turning things around, which won’t be easy for the first year.
Buffalo Football’s MAC Title Odds
Buffalo’s odds to win the MAC are +4000, via BetMGM.
Buffalo Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Buffalo’s win total Over/Under is 5, with Under 5 at -115 and Over 5 at -105.
Buffalo Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/29 vs Lafayette
9/7 at Missouri
9/14 vs UMass
9/21 at Northern Illinois
9/28 at UConn
10/12 vs Toledo
10/19 vs Western Michigan
10/26 at Ohio
11/2 at Akron
11/12 vs Ball State
11/20 at Eastern Michigan
11/26 vs Kent State
Bold indicates MAC contests
Key Buffalo Football Returners
All-MAC Third Team
OL Tyler Doty
For more Group of Five coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Buffalo Football Looking To Improve On Offense
Last season, Buffalo averaged 20.9 points per game, which ranked 109th nationally, and the Bulls will obviously need to improve offensively.
Cole Snyder, who threw for 2,109 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, transferred to Eastern Michigan. CJ Ogbonna, who arrived last year as a graduate transfer from Southeast Missouri State and appeared in eight games, is the likely frontrunner for the quarterback job. He attempted just 21 passes last season, but is more known for his running ability. Ogbonna rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He is the only quarterback on this year’s team who saw action for the Bulls last year.
The leading returning rusher is Jacqez Barksdale, who rushed for 248 yards and two scores.
Nik McMillan, who was limited to seven games last season due to injury, is among the top receiving threats. A big addition to the receiving corps is Taji Johnson, who spent the previous four seasons at Boston College.
Third-team All-MAC selection Tyler Doty, who has started 22 consecutive games at right guard, leads an experienced offensive line. Caelan Shepard started all 12 games at right tackle for a unit that was third in the MAC in fewest sacks allowed with 16.
Buffalo has welcomed back a familiar face who will help lead the defense. After last season, linebacker Shaun Dolac decided to transfer to Utah State. During the spring, he returned to Buffalo. Last season, Dolac started the first four games for the Bulls before suffering a season-ending injury. He had 32 tackles. In 2022, he ranked second in the nation with 147 tackles.
Red Murdock is Buffalo’s leading returning tackler with 60 for a unit that allowed 27.4 points per game. Marcus Fuqua added 57 tackles, while cornerback Charles McCartherens led the Bulls with three interceptions. Defensive end CJ Bazile leads things up front after starting all 12 games last season and recording 20 tackles and two sacks.
2024 Buffalo Football Season Prediction
I predict Buffalo won’t win the MAC East Division and will win five games.
Buffalo doesn’t have an overly challenging non-league schedule, other than a game against Missouri. The Bulls’ Over/Under win total is higher than their two other FBS non-conference opponents, UMass and UConn. The other non-league game is against FCS Lafayette, so it’s not outlandish to think Buffalo could go 3-1 in non-conference play, although it isn’t guaranteed. Last year, the Bulls went 0-4 in non-league games against Wisconsin, FCS Fordham, Liberty, and Louisiana. That was a much tougher schedule.
In addition, Buffalo plays three teams ranked below the Bulls in preseason MAC odds – Akron, Ball State, and Kent State, and another with identical odds, Eastern Michigan. If Buffalo goes 2-2 in those games, there would be five wins. Buffalo would have to then upset Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, or Ohio to finish with more than five wins. It is very possible, but for a team with a new coach and system, getting to six victories and becoming bowl eligible might be too big of a task.
